He
moved closer, and took her by the shoulders, and turned her towards him.
There was nothing else in all the world.
'I want to make love to you.'
He kissed her, and stripped away the barriers between them, and touched
her with the roots of his being, overflowing like a well-spring upon the
earth. She had not the strength to resist him, and soon lost all desire
to do so. He led her to his bed, and together they breathed deeper air
than they had for many days.
*
Later that night, as they slept side by side, Kalus dreamed that he rode
across a vast expanse on the back of a great horse, its silver mane
flying in the wind of its speed. Then as the sun set the land became
dark and he walked alone, till in the dense and shadowed underbrush
there was a rustle of movement, and a great cat called his name.
And waking, he heard the sound again. He pulled aside the patchwork of
furs and moved across the room, afraid the sound would fade into
unreality. He threw a log quickly on the dying fire, and went to the
door. And opened it.
The snow tiger stood before him, a fierce storm howling all around
it. Leg bleeding and weak from hunger, it remained motionless. But
still it stood, and wanted to come in.
'What is it?' asked his lover, peering out from the canopy of
stone.
Pages:
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191